Dual dome skylight



E. c. KIEKHAEFER 3,434,250,

DUAL DOME SKYLIGHT March 25, 1969 Filed Jan. 12, 1967 BY \-74ndrus 5 StarKg Affiimm United States Patent 3,434,250 DUAL DOME SKYLIGHT Elmer C. Kiekhaefer, Winter Haven, Fla., assignor to Brunswick Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 12, 1967, Ser. No. 608,926 Int. Cl. E04b 7/18, 1/62; E06b /00 US. Cl. 52--22 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a dual dome skylight in which two spaced skylight panes are employed giving rise to a differential expansion and contraction with changes in weather.

The invention relates more specifically to the expansion joint mounting for the skylight upon the curb and which permits differential expansion and contraction between the two panes of the skylight and also between the skylight and the curb.

The expansion joint employed by the invention utilizes a large area of slip contact in which the parts are under a minimum of pressure contact.

The accompanying drawing illustrates two embodiments presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skylight dome with parts broken away and sectioned;

FIG. 2 is a detail transverse vertical section showing the construction of one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a similar section showing another embodiment of the invention.

The skylight of the invention generally comprises a dome I mounted upon a curb 2 such as the curb shown and described in applicants copending application Ser. No. 608,927.

The dome '1 comprises two spaced panes 3 and 4 of glass or suitable skylight material such as acrylic resin formed to any desired configuration and having corresponding edge flanges 5 and 6 disposed in spaced parallel planes.

The lower flange 6 rests upon the top 7 of curb 2. The upper flange 5 is clamped down by an overlying flange 8 of a frame 9 secured to the curb '2 in any suitable manner.

In carrying out the invention the flanges 5 and 6 are biased apart and into engagement with the frame flange 8 and curb top 7, respectively, by a resilient cushion member 10 which maintains slipping contact with the flanges 5 and 6 similar to the slipping contact between flanges 5 and 6 and the corresponding flange 8 and curb top 7.

The cushion member 10 comprises a hollow loop extending peripherally of the skylight and having an upper flat wall 11 engaging the flange 5 of upper pane 3 over a substantial area of contact, and having a lower flat wall 12 engaging the flange 6 of lower pane 4 over a substantial area of contact. The walls 11 and 12 generally lie in parallel spaced planes.

The walls 11 and 12 may be biased against the corresponding flanges 5 and 6 by any suitable construction.

3,434,250. Patented Mar. 25, 1969 In FIG. 2 the walls .11 and 12 are an integral part of the same member with a loop or fold 13 therebetween at their corresponding inner edges. In this construction the outer edges of the Walls 11 and 12 have outward lips 14 which embed themselves into a U-shaped soft rubber sealing member 15 held in a recess 16 in frame 9. The sealing member 15 is designed to hold the walls 11 and 12 against displacement and to reduce the pressure of engagement between walls 11 and 12 and the corresponding flange 8 and curb top 7.

In FIG. 3 the walls 17 and 18 which correspond to walls 11 and '12 of FIG. 2 are of separate sheet construction and are biased apart into engagement with the corresponding flanges 5 and 6 by the rubber sealing strip 19 which is held in a recess 20 in the frame. The inward lips 21 and 22 on the corresponding outer edges of walls 17 and 18 become embedded in the soft rubber of strip .19 and hold the walls 11 and 12 against displacement.

The inner edges of walls 11 and 12 are curved toward one another and then formed flat to provide bearing contact therebetween which biases the walls apart and into engagement with the corresponding skylight flanges 5 and 6. The walls 11 and 12, and 17 and 18 of cushion member 10 of the FIG. 3 construction may be of thin spring metal or of a resilient synthetic plastic to maintain a constant light slippage pressure over a substantial area of friction between the walls and the corresponding skylight flanges and between the skylight flanges the corresponding flange 8 and curb top 7.

In all of the embodiments a substantial space is provided at the free edges of flanges 5 and 6 and between such edges and the rubber seal 15 or 19 into which the flanges may expand in response to expansion of the corresponding panes 3 and 4. As such expansion occurs the area of frictional contact between the flanges 5 and 6 and the adjacent members 7 and 8 and also the walls '11 and 12 will increase. Likewise contraction of panes 3 and 4 will reduce the said areas of frictional contact and enlarge the space at the corresponding edges of the flanges. By providing a substantial area of frictional contact between the flanges 5 and 6 and their supporting surfaces the pressures needed for sealing purposes may be kept at a minimum.

This large area of contact between the parts provides a substantial Weather tight seal for the skylight. Also, if water does leak between the edge flanges 56 of the domes and the cushion member 10', the rubber strip 15 or 19 will seal against further leakage into the space between the domes 3 and 4.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. In a dual pane skylight in which the peripheral edges of the two panes are clamped between a curb and a removable frame, a cushion member disposed between the said edges and biasing the same apart and into light pressure engagement with the clamping elements of the curb and frame over a substantial area of frictional slippage, said cushion and member comprising upper and lower spaced walls of light spring material engaging the corresponding opposite surfaces of the edge portions of the skylight panes, an integral fold of the inner edges of said walls biasing said walls apart and into engagement with the corresponding edge of said panes, lips on the outer edges of said walls, and a rubber sealing member of generally U-shape and receiving said lips embedded therein.

2. The construction of claim 1 in which said rubber sealing member is held in a recess in one of said clamping elements.

3. In a dual pane skylight in which the peripheral edges of the two panes are clamped between a curb and a removable frame, a cushion member disposed between said edges and biasing the same apart and into light pressure engagement with the clamping elements of the curb and frame of a substantial area of frictional slippage, said cushion member comprising upper and lower spaced walls of light spring material engaging the corresponding opposite surfaces of the edge portions of the skylight panes, inner edge portions of said walls being curved into engagement, and means to hold the outer edge portions of said Walls against displacement.

4. The construction of claim 3 in which said last named means comprises inwardly extending lips on the outer edges of said walls, and a rubber block separating and embedding said lips.

5. The construction of claim 4 in which said rubber block is held in a recess in one of said clamping elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,122,453 7/1938 Clause 52-398 X 2,214,222 9/1940 Chaffee 52-398 X 2,354,341 7/ 1944 Verhagen 52-399 3,012,642 12/1961 Emmerich 52-399 X 3,064,320 11/ 1962 Blaszkowski 52-398 X 2,934,801 5/1960 Blaszkowski 52-399 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,382,800 1964 France.

948,032 1964 Great Britain.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 52-80, 200, 403 

